Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Why Drake Maye’s toughness impresses Brian Hoyer and David Andrews more than his play
Maye's gritty play in Sunday's loss to the Titans has his Patriots teammates buzzing.
Drake Maye didn’t have the most efficient game ever in the Patriots’ overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans (two interceptions, one fumble lost) last Sunday. But his incredible game-saving play at the end of regulation has reinforced what veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne already knew.
“This guy is one-of-one,” Bourne told “The Quick Snap” podcast on Monday after the game.
The numbers suggest Bourne might well be right.
Maye is already having a singular opening season, becoming the first rookie since the 1970 merger to have five passing touchdowns and more than 200 yards rushing in his first five starts. That includes presumptive NFL Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, who was taken one pick before Maye in this year’s draft.
But the numbers are only part of the story when it comes to the respect Maye has gained within the Patriots’ locker room.
Advertisement:
Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said Maye’s heroic touchdown reminded him of “Josh Allen 2.0” and says players from across the NFL will want to come to New England for the chance to play with him.
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry called him “special” on Sunday.
Standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez put it even more simply: “That’s Drake. Nobody was surprised.”
But for Brian Hoyer and David Andrews, Maye’s most impressive trait last weekend was his effort to get on the field in the first place and his will to win.
The rookie QB had to pass concussion protocol to earn the start after an illegal hit to the head knocked him out of the Patriots’ Week 8 win against the Jets, which Andrews says is no small feat: “I’ve been in those [concussion] tests … they’re exhausting.”
Advertisement:
“I think it sends a great message to the team,” Andrews went on. “There are a lot of things at the quarterback position that people don’t value as tough. But watching true professionals play the game — not showing you’re hurt, standing in there when you know you’re about to take a hit and delivering a ball, him not playing scared after the concussion — that was some toughness showed by him. And I really appreciated it.”
Hoyer took it a step further, liking Maye’s fortitude — if not necessarily his football skills or accomplishments — to Patriots legend Tom Brady, noting how Brady once played a season on a torn MCL and fought through an injured hand to put up a legendary Super Bowl performance in 2018.
“To Tom’s credit, as bad as it looked sometimes, he always got to the game whether he practiced or didn’t practice,” Hoyer said of Brady. “… Bringing it back to Drake, he’s shown that, and I think that is very endearing to your teammates, especially the guys who have to go out and hit people on every single play.”
While Maye can’t truly be compared to Brady after five career starts, the young QB has done plenty to show he can be the franchise signal-caller the Patriots have longed for going forward, both in terms of his play and what he represents to the locker room.
Advertisement:
Whatever New England’s 2024 record ends up being, 2025 could be the start of something fun in Foxborough.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com